Youth Battle Of The Bands

SANTA BARBARA - The Santa Barbara Youth Academy Battle of the Bands is a competition for youth bands and musicians to perform on stage and compete for cash prizes, professional musician mentorship and more.

There will be four divisions in age groups 12 to 16 years and younger, with a new addition, the OPEN division, youths 18 and younger enrolled in high school. Roger Perry, this years Director, said “I am ecstatic to invite all the bands interested to perform before their peers, parents and community”.

Open auditions will begin on Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Bishop Diego High School Theatre.  Online enrollment forms can be found here.  New this year - there will be NO BAND SIGN UP FEE.

This years winners will receive the commemorative SBYA Battle of the Bands trophy and $500 for 1st place, $250 for 2nd place and 3rd place winners will receive $100. All winning bands will have the opportunity to play in next summers Music in the Park and be seen by industry professionals.

Our esteemed panel of judges will include J.R. Richards, Founder of the band Dishwalla , also a Santa Barbara High School graduate and new this year, Bruce Kulick, of KISS and Grand Funk Railroad. Other celebrity judges to be announced as confirmed.


TICKET INFORMATION: General admission tickets for the finals are $12 general admission. Tickets can be purchased at The Marjorie Luke Theatre box office and is located at 721 E. Cota St, on the Santa Barbara Junior High School Campus.

All proceeds go to the SBYMA young musician's scholarship fund.